A Russian modding group known as Revolution Team has officially released its highly anticipated GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition, despite facing YouTube takedowns initiated by Take-Two Interactive, parent company of Rockstar Games.
The ambitious mod seamlessly integrates the world, missions, and cutscenes from GTA: Vice City (2002) into the enhanced engine of GTA IV (2008), offering fans a visually upgraded experience with modernized physics and rendering. However, the team’s public rollout was disrupted when Take-Two removed their YouTube channel without prior notice or communication.
In a statement posted alongside the mod’s release, the developers expressed disappointment over the sudden deletion of their channel, which hosted hundreds of hours of development streams and community engagement. The teaser trailer for GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition had amassed over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments within 24 hours before the takedown.
“This was a cruel move from them, but we have already accepted the situation, since we cannot influence it,” the team wrote. “We refrained from commenting, as we weren’t sure what further actions could follow. So, we decided not to take any risks which could disrupt the release.”
Originally, the mod was designed to require a legitimate copy of GTA IV as a gesture of respect to the publisher. However, due to ongoing uncertainties and potential restrictions, the team has now released it as a standalone, ready-to-install package to ensure broader accessibility and stable performance.
“This change was necessary to preserve the project and allow as many fans as possible to experience it,” the developers explained.
Despite the setback, the team remains committed to the modding community’s spirit. “This modification is absolutely free and carries no commercial benefit. It was created by fans, for fans. We extend our gratitude to the original game’s developers—not the publisher.”
They also voiced frustration over Take-Two’s stance on fan-driven projects. “It's a great pity that Take-Two Interactive blocks modding initiatives that aim to maintain interest in their iconic games. Perhaps our project will serve as a precedent for the entire modding community.”
Take-Two has long maintained a strict policy regarding unauthorized modifications, particularly those that could impact potential remasters or re-releases. Previous takedowns include the Liberty City Preservation Project, an effort to recreate GTA IV in the GTA V engine, and other high-profile mods like an AI-powered GTA V story mode and a VR mod for Red Dead Redemption 2. Notably, some of these removed mods were later followed by official remasters, fueling speculation about corporate strategy.
Interestingly, Take-Two has occasionally integrated modders into Rockstar’s development teams, suggesting a nuanced relationship with the community. Still, the company’s enforcement actions remain consistent when projects appear to compete with existing or planned commercial releases.
Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij defended the company’s position on social media, stating: “Take2/R* are a commercial company. They will take down mods that interfere with their business interests.”
He added, “The VC NextGen Edition mod for GTA4 directly competes with the Definitive Edition. The Liberty City preservation project would interfere with a possible GTA4 remaster. There’s no point getting angry about it. This is what companies are supposed to do. The best we can hope for is that they allow mods that don’t interfere with their business—such as DCA3 (GTA3 for Dreamcast). Afaik, they have recently been decent about letting these projects continue.”
As of now, the GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition remains available for download, though its long-term availability is uncertain. The modding community now watches closely to see whether Take-Two will escalate its response by targeting the mod itself. [ttpp]
